Physical Activity and Psychological Adjustment in Japanese Advanced Lung Cancer Patients in Chemotherapy: The Feasibility of Intervention

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a physical activity intervention program and the relationship between physical activity and psychological adjustment in Japanese advanced lung cancer patients in chemotherapy. The study was designed as an intervention study and the sample was comprised of advanced lung cancer patients in chemotherapy, all of whom provided written informed consent. Physical activity was recorded by uniaxial accelerometry monitors (Lifecoder^®, Suzuken, Co., Ltd), and psychological adjustment was measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Each participant received 1) feedback about the data of their footsteps, 2) positive reinforcement for being physically active, 3) enhancement of autonomy for being physically active and 4) information about setting goals related to physical activity in the first, second, and fourth week. Drop out rate of participants was 33.3% (3/9). None of the variables changed over the four weeks of the study. Spearman's correlational analysis revealed that higher steps were correlated with lower depression (r= −.90, p<.05) at the start of the study. At four weeks, however, higher steps were not correlated with HADS score; similarly, the change of steps had no significant relationship with the change of HADS scores. The results from this study demonstrate that this manner of intervention was less than preferable. The present study partially suggests that high physical activity is related to psychological adjustment in Japanese advanced lung cancer participants in chemotherapy. In order to develop an effective physical activity program, future research should elaborate the method of intervention or increase the control of the variables.